Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and the gem of the 19th wedding anniversary. The name "aquamarine" is derived from two Latin words: aqua, meaning "water" and marina, meaning " of the sea". Aquamarine is the green-blue to-blue variety of the mineral beryl. The gem's most valuable color is a moderately intense, medium-dark blue to slightly greenish-blue. Aquamarine owes its color to trace elements of iron in its crystal structure. Medieval sages prescribed water touched by aquamarine for a host of ills, including those affecting the eyes and lungs. they promised the virtues of insight and foresight to the gem's wearers.
FACTS
Mineral: Beryl
Chemistry: Be3Al2Si6O18
Color: Greenish blue, light in tone
Refractive index: 1.577 to 1.583
Birefringence: 0.005 to 0.009
Specific gravity: 2.72
Mohs Hardness: 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale
Sources: Brazil, China, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Zambia
Treatments: Heating is the principal technique used to accomplish this. Other treatments try to improve aquamarine’s clarity. Stability:Heat exposure is not recommended for aquamarine, but the color is stable against light exposure. Aquamarine can be attacked by hydrofluoric acid. Cleaning:Warm soapy water is always a safe cleaning method for aquamarine. Cleaning by ultrasonic and steam cleaners is usually safe unless the stone has liquid inclusions or fractures. Rarely, aquamarine might be fracture-filled. These stones should only be cleaned with warm soapy water.
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